Line stretcher



E. C. GEBS Aug. 22., 1938.

LINE STRETCHER Filed Aug. 16, 1957 Fly-4 ERNEST C. 6555 ATTORNEY5 Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 16,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in line stretching devices and more particularly to improvements in self-tightening devices adapted to receive ropes, wires and the like and hold same in substantially fixed engagement.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device for gripping lines whereby the line will be firmly held and the firmness of the grip will be proportionally increased as the tension on the line is increased.

It is another feature of the device according to the present invention that it provides means whereby the line, though firmly held, can be instantly and easily released from its engagement 15 with the clamping device.

It is another feature of the device according to the present invention that it is composed of relatively few moving parts, is simple in construction, and economical in manufacture.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates the device according to the present invention in one of its applications.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, with one arm broken away to illustrate certain details of the device; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 2, taken along the line 4-4.

The device according to the present invention comprises a V-shaped member, generally indicated at H], having two arms II and I2 formed integral therewith and having a hooked head portion, generally indicated at l3. The member 40 ill is preferably made of material having substantial resilience, such as steel and the like, whereby the arms Ii and I2 can be disposed at different relative distances from each other by exertion of an altering force but, when the force 5 is removed, the arms will resume their normal relationship. The arms H and I2 are tapered so that their greatest thickness is towards the free ends and the rider ring I5 is disposed around said arms and adjacent the tapered surface there- 50 of, whereby movement of the ring along the arms from the point Where the arms are united, causes the ends of the arms to move nearer each other. The movement of the ring along the arms is re-- stricted by the stops l1 and I 8 formed in the 55 arms and abutting against the ring. To facili- 1937, Serial No. 159,383

tate movement of the ring l5, upright projections 20 are provided in the rider element, whereby the ring is more readily gripped by the hand of the operator. The inner synclined faces of the V-shaped element are provided with dovetailed slide elements 22 and 23 adapted to engage with corresponding slide ways in the members 24 and 25, whereby said members are permitted free movement relative to the arms of the V-shape. The elements 24 and 25 are formed with ring-like structures 28 in the upper por tions thereof adapted to receive and engage with the ring [5 whereby movement of the elements is transmitted to the ring and vice versa. Serrations are provided on the surfaces of the members 24 and 25, substantially as indicated at 35, in order to facilitate gripping of lines disposed therebetween. The head of the V-shape is provided with a plurality of hook elements 30 and 3 l, the element 30 being cut in one portion thereof to present claw-like surface 32, substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In use, the line to be gripped is disposed between the serrated sliding members 24 and 25 and the arms H and I2 moved toward each other insofar as possible. Under these conditions, the serrated sliding elements will grip the line and tension on the line will move said elements outwardly from the point where the arms of the V are united, thereby moving the ring [5 along the tapered surfaces of the arms H and I2 and forcing them more closely toward each other. Under these conditions, the greater the tension on the line, the greater will be the force with which the arms of the V-shape will be moved toward each other, and accordingly the more firmly will the line be held. It is notable that due to the high mechanical advantage provided by machines of the type of the inclined plane, the force required to be exerted upon the ring element in order to firmly grip the line is relatively less than would be required in other machine structures. When the line has been gripped as aforesaid, the hook members 30 or 3| can be placed in engagement with a fixed support thereby maintaining the line in a stretched position. For example, referring to Fig. 1, the line 40 substantially fixedly attached at the point 4'! is stretched from the catenary 42 to the taut position as indicated by utilizing the device H) as hereinbefore described and after having been so stretched, the hook 3| on the device is placed over the stationary hook 45, whereby the line is maintained in taut position instead of in the catenary 42.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the device hereinabove described can be used in stretching all manner of lines such as wires, cables, ropes, clotheslines and the like. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the head l3 can be varied to provide other engaging means than hooks for attaching the device to stationary support.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of relatively movable extended arms, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable thereupon, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said member along said arms causes the free ends thereof to move relative to each other, slide guides formed on the inner faces of the arms, members slidable on said guides having gripping faces and ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with the said annular member, whereby objects, when gripped between said sliding members and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the surfaces of the arms thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa.

2. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of relatively movable extended arms, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable thereupon, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said member along said arms causes the free ends thereof to move relative to each other, slide guides formed on the inner faces of the arms, members slidable on said guides having gripping faces and ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with the said annular member, whereby objects, when gripped between said sliding members and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the surfaces of the arms thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa, and a head formed on the V-shaped structure at the place of union of the arms.

3. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of resilient extended arms, said arms being tapered whereby they are largest farthest from their place of union, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable along the tapered faces thereof, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said members on the tapered surfaces causes the free ends of the arms to move relative to each other, slide guides formed on the inner faces of the arms, members slidable on said guides having gripping faces and ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with said annular member whereby objects, when gripped between said faces and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the tapered surfaces of the arms, thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa.

4- A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of resilient extended arms, said arms being tapered whereby they are largest farthest from their place of union, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable along the tapered faces thereof, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said members on the tapered surfaces causes the free ends of the arms to move relative to each other, slide guides formed on the inner faces of the arms, members slidable on said guides having gripping faces and ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with said annular member whereby objects, when gripped between said faces and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the tapered surfaces of the arms, thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa., and a head formed on the V-shaped structure at the place of union of the arms.

5. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of resilient extended arms, said arms being tapered whereby they are largest farthest from their place of union, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable along the tapered faces thereof, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said members on the tapered surfaces causes the free ends of the arms to move relative to each other, dove-tail in cross section slide guides formed on the inner synclined faces of the arms and disposed in substantially the plane of movement of the annular member, members slidable on said guides having gripping faces and ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with said annular member whereby objects, when gripped between said faces and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the tapered surfaces of the arms, thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa, and a head formed on the V-shaped structure at the place of union of the arms.

6. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of resilient extended arms, said arms being tapered whereby they are largest farthest from their place of union, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable along the tapered faces thereof, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said members on the tapered surfaces causes the free ends of the arms to move relative to each other, dove-tail in cross section slide guides formed on the inner synclined faces of the arms and disposed in substantially the plane of movement of the annular member, members slidable on said guides having serrated gripping faces and projecting ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with the said annular member whereby objects, when gripped between the serrated faces and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure,

cause the annular member to be advanced along the tapered surfaces of the arms, thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa, and a head formed on the V-shaped structure at the place of union of the arms.

7. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped structure having a pair of resilient extended arms, said arms being tapered whereby they are largest farthest from their place of union, an annular member circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said structure and movable along the tapered faces thereof, the opening in said annular member being of predetermined and unvarying size whereby movement of said members on the tapered surfaces causes the free ends of the arms to move relative to each other, dove-tail in cross section slide guides formed on the inner synclined faces of the arms and disposed in substantially the plane of movement of the annular member, members slidable on said guides having serrated grip-ping faces and projecting ring-like structures formed in a part thereof adapted to receive and engage with the said annular member whereby objects, when gripped between the serrated faces and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped structure, cause the annular member to be advanced along the tapered surfaces of the arms, thereby causing the jaws to grip the objects more tightly and vice versa, and a head formed on the V- shaped structure at the place of union of the arms, said head having elements such as hooks and the like formed thereon adapted to engagement with supporting means.

8. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped member having a pair of relatively movable extended arms, an annulus circumscribing and abutting against the arms of said member and movable thereupon, the opening of said annulus being such that movement thereof along said arms causes the free ends of said arms to approach each other, a gripping element slidingly mounted on the inner'face of each of said arms, attached to and movable in conjunction with said annulus, whereby objects, when gripped between said elements and moved outwardly relative to the V-shaped member, cause the annulus to be advanced along the exterior surfaces of the arms whereby the gripping elements engage objects positioned therebetween more tightly and vice versa.

9. A device of the type described comprising a V-shaped member having a pair of relatively movable divergent arms, a laterally slidable gripping element mounted on the inner face of each of said arms: near the free end thereof, a ringlike member positioned circumjacent said V- shaped member and attached to and movable with each of said sliding elements, said ring-like member being of lesser internal diameter than the external width of said V-shaped member whereby sliding movement of said elements away from the place of union of said arms causes said arms to move toward one another and vice versa.

ERNEST CHRISTIAN GEBS. 

